Device for tightening bed-springs.



PATE'NTED SEPT. l, 1903.

J. W. WESTLAKE. DEVICE FOR TIGHT-ENING BED SPRINGS.

AIPLIOATION FILED MAR. 11. 1903.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented September 1, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

DEVICE FOR TIGHTE NING BED-SPRINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,808, datedSeptember 1, 1903.

Application filed March 11, 1903. Serial No. 147,282. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES W. WEsTLAKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Greenriver, in the county of Sweetwater and State ofWVyoming, have invented a new and useful Device for TighteningBed-Springs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for tightening bed-springs, and has forits object to produce a device of this character which will be readilyadjustable to vary the tension of the spring, as circumstances mayrequire, and this in a simple and efficient manner, without materiallyincreasing the cost of manufacture of the spring.

To these ends the invention comprises the details of construction andcombination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portionof a bed-spring embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionalelevation, on an enlarged scale, on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is aperspective view of the movable end bar and connecting members as viewedfrom beneath.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a bed-spring comprising parallelside bars 2 and 3, end bars 4 and 5, and awoven spring-wire fabric 6,attached at its ends to the end bars in any suitable manner.

The above parts may all be of the usual or any desired construction andmaterial, inasmuch as they constitute no part of the present invention.

In accordance with my invention the end bar 4 is bolted or otherwisesecured to the side bars, and the end bar 5 is removably and ad justablyattached to the same by means of suitable adjusting members 7,preferably in the form of angle-plates of sheet-steel bentlongitudinally into L form in cross-section and bolted to the under sideof the bar 5. These members extend parallel with the side bars 2 and 8,with one of their flanges 8 occupying a vertical position and theirother flange 9 occupying a horizontal position. Each of the members hasits horizontal flange 9 slotted transversely, as at 10, to receive theshank 11. of a horizontal latch 12, operated by a head 13, movable overthe upper face of the flange. The end of the latch 12 projects through aperforation in the vertical flange 8 for engagement with a longitudinalslot 14, formed in the inner face of the side bar and extendinglongitudinally of the same a suitable distance for the purpose presentlydescribed. The latch, where it projects through the vertical flange, isangularly bent to form a vertical shoulder, which is engaged by the endof a leaf-spring 15, which presses the latch outward and maintains it insecure engagement with the slot in the side bar until positivelydisengaged therefrom by manipulating the head 13 to force the latchinward against the action of the leaf -spring. The vertical flange 8 ofeach of the members is provided with a longitudinal slot 16, whichcommunicates with a series of angularly-dis-.

posed slots 17 adapted to receive the shank of a lag-bolt 18, projectinghorizontally from the inner wall of the side bar.

Supposing the parts to be in the position illustrated by full lines inFig. 2 and that it is desired to adjust the end bar 5 to increase thetension of the Wire fabric, the latches 12 are manipulated in the mannerabove described to release them from engagement with the side bars andthe end bar is swung upward to the position illustrated by dotted linesin said figure. then moved to engage the lag-bolts 18 with the properslots 17, and the bar 5 is then forced downward until the latches 12again engage the slots in the side bars. From this construction it Willbe seen that the tension may be readily increased or relaxed to anydesired extent by moving the members to bring the lag-bolts intoengagement with different slots of the series, it being understood, ofcourse, thatthe tension will be decreased when the bolts are engagedwith the inner slots and increased when engaged with the outer slots andthat the slots 14; in the side bars are made of a length sufficient toinsure the proper engagement of the catches therewith, irrespective ofthe longitudinal adjustment of the members.

It is to be understood, of course, that in practice it is my intentionnot only to manufacture springs having my adjusting means The members 7are applied thereto, but to also manufacture the device as a separateattachment to be applied to springs now in use.

It is to be understood that I do not limit or confine myself to thedetails of construction herein shown and described, inasmuch as va-,rious minor changes may be made therein Without departing from thespirit or scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is In a bed-spring, thecombination with a pair of side bars provided with longitudinal slots,of a fixed and a movable end bar, a spring fabric attached to the endbars, adj 11stslots in the side bars to lock the end bar in its normalposition.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES WV. WVESTLAKE.

WVitnesses:

P. E. DUSAULT, WILLIAM ROGERS.

